Germany has vowed to tighten the rules around being off sick from work, with plans to require doctor's notes from employees on the first day of illness. Here's what looks set to change – and what is still uncertain.
Rachel Loxton - rachel.loxton@thelocal.com
Updated: Thu 30 Jul 2026 16:37 CET
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Are Germans off work sick too often? This is a talking about in Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Malin Wunderlich
Germany has vowed to tighten the rules around being off sick from work, with plans to require doctor's notes from employees on the first day of illness. Here's what looks set to change – and what is still uncertain.
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